Alexander Wang

AS always, it was a celeb fest in the front row of Alexander Wang, with Santogold, Rosin Murphy, Diane von Furstenberg, Patrick Robinson, Alexandra Richards and Sir Philip Green facing the catwalk. And, oh, did we forget to mention a newly brunette Sarah Jessica Parker, who was seated beside Anna Wintour?

They’d all turned up at the Roseland Ballroom to see what fashion’s latest whiz kid had planned for autumn/winter 2009-10.

A lot, as it turns out. As vintage Rolling Stones, Michael Jackson and Guns N’ Roses blared from the speakers, out came what can only be described as vintage Eighties business attire – structured dresses and a cropped blazer in Australian Merino wool, double-breasted portrait collar jackets and oversized white dress shirts – all reimagined for 21st Century club kids who’ve inadvertently found themselves with day jobs.

While the ubiquitous bike shorts and cut-out leggings missed the mark – and are likely to find a very limited audience - Wang hit it out of the park when sexing up sporty favorites like the sweatshirt (rendered here in feathers and fox) and jumpsuit (with sheared fox sleeves). Even body con cocktail dresses, when given the Wang treatment, manage to be both sportif and sensual. It’s this unexpected mix that keeps the designer’s cool kid fans coming back for more, more, more.